Tube socket



TUBE SOCKET Filed Sepq. 21, 1925- Patented June 24, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEWTON c. SGHELLENGER, or ELKHART, INDIANA, AssIGNoa T cHIoAGo TELE- PHONE SUPPLY COMPANY, or ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or DELA- WARE TUBE socxE'r Application filed September 21 1925. Serial No. 57,487.

The present invention relates to sockets for thermionic or radio tubes. I

One of the problems in the construction and use of sockets for radio tubes is to get a firm and positive contact between the springs of the sockets and the studs of the tubes. This difliculty is due to the fact that 4 insertion of the tube into the socket does not insure any definite contact between the contact stud and the co-operating' spring.

In fact, such devices as now constructed often cause the accumulation of dirt or oxide between the co-operating parts. According to'my invention, the co-operatingtgarts are so organized that the insertion of e tubeinto the socket secures an automatic cleaning action by a definite wiping along the spring member. When the tube is locked in lace by arotary motion,'the stud will wor its way back over the wiped area of the spring, and finally rest at some point intermediate the places of beginning and end of the initial wiping action. Hence, it is obvious that a clean spring surface will always be had for contact, with the stud.

- Another advantageous feature'ot the present invention is the provision of a spring which is adapted for use in the] vertical instead of inthe horizontal direction, as is customary with springs now em loyed in tube sockets. In this way, I am a le to get a greater length of spring for a given socket size. The result is that the spring will last longer than the ordinary horizontal type of spring as the stress per unit of length is .less.

It is also well known that there'is general- 1y more room available in radio' sets in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. Hence, although my type of s ring rection, it saves on theamount of space required for the socket in the horizontal direction. Thus, it is a very desirable form of socket for portable sets, as well as for other types 0 sets where compactness is desired.

Inorder to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating my invention, I shall now describe. a specific embodiment of the same in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tube socket of my invention showing the socket as being mounted on apanel member;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the socket removed from the base showing the manner of arranging the springs;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is'a front isometric view of the preferred form of contact spring; i Fig. 5 is a back isometric view of a modi- 'fied form of contact spring;

, Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the socket, and shows the manner of fastening the spring to the cup or tubular member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the base of 'a-thermionic tube adopted to co-operate with the socket;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the stud and spring contact and shows the manner in which. the stud and spring co-operate when the tube is first inserted into the socket;

Fig. 9 illustrates the manner in which the stud wipes the contact spring before 1t reaches its final position; and

Fig.10 shows the stud and its co-operating spring in final position when the tube is locked in the socket. I

The socket which I have illustrated as embodying my invention is provided with a tubular or sleeve member 10, which in the present case is made of moulded insulating material such as bakelite, fiber, hard rubber, or the like. The sleeve 10 is provided with a bayonet slot 11 which comprises a vertical leg and a lateral leg, which preferably but not necessarily extends slightly upwardlyto keep the pin 12 from escaping from the said lateral leg too easily. This vV/ slot is adapted to receivethe pin 12 in the base 37 of the tube,which eo-operates with the sleeve 10.

A vertical rib 13 serves to reenforce that side of the sleeve whichcontains theslot 11, and also permits the sleeve to be taken more readily out of the die. The rib 13 merges into the substantially horizontal base portion 14 on the bottom side of which are provided the recesses 15. The recesses 15 are approximately 90 apart and each recess is at substantially right angles to its adjacent .recess. Lying flush with the bottom side of each recess is a threaded washer 16 which is permanently secured in the base 14. Adj oining each recess 15 and extending downwardly from.the inner surface of the sleeve 10 are the lugs 17. As stated, each of these lugs are formed between the recesses in the base and serve to guide the socket in mounting. In Fig. 3 I show a method of mounting the socket on an annular member 18 which may be of softrubber. The member 18 acts as a cushion between the socket 14 and the channel member 19. The channel 19 is in turn secured to a panel 20 by means of a suitable screw 21 and nut 22 which threads thereon. However, the manner of mounting the socket is not of any particular importance in the present application, as it is obvious that the general usefulness of the invention is not dependent upon the manner in which the socket is mounted.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a novel form of contact spring which permits of a Wiping action between the contact portionthereof and the stud of the tube so as to expose a clean polished surface for contact with the stud. The spring is designated in its entirety by the numeral 23 and comprises a fiat horizontal portion 24 which is adapted for mounting in the recess 15. An opening 25 serves to receive the screw 26, which threads into the insert or nut 16 and holds the spring member 23 firmly against the bottom side of the recess. An abutment member 27 extends vertically downward from one end of the horizontal portion 24. .A web or reenforcing member 28 serves to strengthen the band between the flathorizontal portion 24 and the abutment 27. It is formed by pressing the corner between these two parts inwardly, at a point substantially intermediate their longitudinal sides. Off of one of the longitudinal edges of the abutment member 27 and at substantially right angles thereto is formed the short leg 29. This leg extends vertically downward so as to form one side of a U bend 30. As the spring extends upwardly from the U bend, the width gradually diminishes for the purpose of controlling the flexibility of the spring until the.

' contact portion 31 is reached. 'Here the the same flexibility spring again has. substantialllyl width as the leg 29, to control t e travel of and to provide a wider contact portion. The

long or remote leg of the spring, which exing the spring 23 to the sleeve, and also the method employed for .making connection with it. In this case I employ a lug 33' which is adapted to seat between the head of the screw 26 and the bottom side of the horizontal portion of the spring 24. Con tact between the lead wire 34 and the socket maybe made by soldering the lead wire to the lug member 33.

In Fig. 5 I show a slight modification of the spring shown in Fig. 4. In thiscase an integral terminal is provided by the use of a separate lug member 35 formed integral with the abutment member 27 of the spring. The lug 35 extends downwardly.

and outwardly from the abutment member and may be used in place of the lug 33. By this construction'the lead wire may be soldered directly to the spring without danger of softening the spring by the heat of soldering.

When the tube is first inserted into the socket, the pin 12 thereof is brought into co-operation with the slot 11 of the socket. Each of the studs, for example the stud 36 of the tube as shown in Fig. 8, will now contact with'the contact portion 31 of the spring 23. As the tube is forced down into the socket, it will be guided by the pin 12 through the vertical portion of the slot 11. In so doing, the stud 36 travels along the surface of the contact portion 31 until the pin 12 reaches substantially the bottom of the vertical portion of the slot 11. It will be noted that in traveling alongthe surface back along the wiped surface of the contact portion 31, until the pin 12 reaches the extremity of the lateral portion of the slot 11. When in this position the tube is locked in the socket, the pin 12 dropping into a recess back of the corner of the lateral" leg. The stud 36 has, during lateral in 12, traveled back along the wiped sur ace and is finally brought into of the pin 12 will cause the stud 36 to travel contact with some point on this surface intermediate the starting point, as illustrated in Fig. 10,'and the extreme point of travel, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Hence, it is obvious that a clean surface will always be exposed for contact with the stud 36 in the tube,

thereby preventing any resistance, loss, or

failure to make contact which may result because of dust or oxide between the contacts.

I do not wish to be limited to the details shown br described.

I claim 1. A contact spring comprising a fiat horizontal mounting portion, an abutment portion at substantially right angles to said horizontal portion, and a generally U-shaped spring member integral with "said abutment portion and extending out laterally there from one of the legs of said spring member being longer than the other and extending upwardly and over the top of the end of the short leg.

2. A contact spring comprising a horizontal' portion and an abutment portion extending downwardly therefrom and integral therewith, and a U-shaped spring member having a short leg extending out laterally at substantially right angles to said abutment member, and,a long leg extending above said short leg.

3. In combination, a socket member, a base member insertable' into thesocket member by a combined plunging and turning movement, a contact stud carried by thebase I member, and a contact spring inclined in the direction of turning movement of the base member and disposed in the path of said stud to be deflected laterally thereby during the plunging movement of the base member, the extent of lateral deflection of the spring being greater than the extent of turning movement of the base member whereby the stud actsto first wipe the contact areaof the spring during the plunging I movement of the base member and is then disposed in contact with .said wiped area when the base member is turned into final position in the socket member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of September, 1925.

NEWTON G. SGHELLENGER. 

